Computer Hardware Flashcards
<p><p>What does HDD stand for?</p></p>
<p><p>Hard Disk Drive</p></p>
<p><p>What does SSD stand for?</p></p>
<p><p>Solid State Drive</p></p>
<p><p>What does Dual core mean?</p></p>
<p><p>2 processors ( NOT TWICE AS FAST!!!)</p></p>
<p></p>
<p>What does Quad core mean?</p>
<p></p>
<p>4 processors (Not necessarily 4 times as fast thought!)</p>
<p><p>What does 1 GHz mean?</p></p>
<p><p>1 billion instructions a second.
| </p></p>
<p><p>What body part is the CPU normally compared to?</p></p>
<p><p>The brain</p></p>
<p><p>What does the CPU do?</p></p>
<p><p>IT processes the instructions given by the computer.</p></p>
<p><p>What 3 things does the CPU do?</p></p>
<p><p>Fetches, Decodes, Executes.</p></p>
<p><p>How many levels of the cache are there?</p></p>
<p><p>3 levels</p></p>
<p></p>
<p>How much memory can typically be stored in the first level of cache?</p>
<p></p>
<p>16kB</p>
<p></p>
<p>How much memory can typically be stored in the Second level of cache?</p>
<p></p>
<p>256 - 516 kB</p>
<p><p>What does RAM stand for?</p></p>
<p><p>Random Access Memory</p></p>
<p></p>
<p>What is ROM?</p>
<p></p>
<p><b>Primary</b> non-volatile storage.</p>
<p><p>What does Volatile memory mean?</p></p>
<p><p>The memory is only kept while the computer is on.</p></p>
<p><p>What does ROM stand for?</p></p>
<p><p>Read only Memory</p></p>
<p><p>What are the advantages of HHDs?</p></p>
<p><p>Can store a lot of data.
Cheaper than SSD.
Ideal for desktop PC.</p></p>
<p><p>What are the disadvantages of HDDs?</p></p>
<p><p>Big Slow Can get damaged easily Less robust Can be loud </p></p>
<p><p>What are the advantages of SSDs?</p></p>
<p><p>Ideal for laptops. Light Small Fast More robust than HDDs.</p></p>
<p>What is better quad or dual cores?</p>
<p>Quad</p>
The three parts of the cycle that a CPU runs in are called
fetch, decode and execute
<p>What cycle is used in the CPU?</p>
<p>Fetch, Decode, Execute</p>
<p>What does clock speed mean?</p>
<p>The speed one full fetch-decode-execute cycle takes.</p>
An example of a low-level language is
assembler (assembly language)
What is stored on the ROM of a computer?
start up instructions for the PC
Which type of memory is volatile?
RAM
What does volatile mean?
memory that is not available after the power goes off
What are the two main units of the CPU?
ALU and CU
<p>What does cache memory do?</p>
<p>It saves little bits of data so when they are called they can get to the cpu to be executed very quickly.</p>
CPU speed is measured in
hertz (Hz) - normally gigahertz (GHz)
How does the CPU communicate with the rest of the system
using buses (most importantly the system bus)
How does cache memory make a CPU faster?
it stores the most frequently used data and instructions on the CPU, making them faster to access as the data has less distances to travel
What is virtual memory?
when you assign a portion of your secondary storage such as a hard drive as ‘pretend’ memory. Storage for programs running in the background is transferred to the virtual memory and swapped back into RAM when it is needed again.
What is stored in RAM?
Instructions and data for programs that are currently being used
VDU stands for
visual display unit
5 common input devices are
mouse, keyboard, scanner, graphics tablet, touch screen
4 common output devices are
monitor (VDU), printer, plotter, actuator,
What is the difference between primary and secondary storage
The primary storage is the main memory of the computer - RAM and ROM. Primary storage has a special purpose such as storing the boot up information for the computer (ROM)
Secondary storage is normally larger and more general-purpose
What is normally stored in the non-volatile part of the computer’s main memory?
The boot-up / startup instructions
How does having cache memory improve the performance of the CPU?
It is closer to the CPU (actually on the chip), and smaller in size. Closeness means the data has less distance to travel and is therefore faster. Smaller size means the required data can be found more quickly
